The Filmic Journey

I am a huge advocate of the Jamaican Film Industry. They say it's not an industry yet, so sometimes I call it a community, but I have no shame in calling it an industry. You have to speak it into being. I also strongly believe and have been saying this for years that film is going to go back to the old days of showing movies in a small space with a crowd of people who just enjoy movies.

Jollywood Films has embodied that. They are not waiting for Palace amusement to give them screen time. They are finding places to show their films for a cover charge and I am all about supporting my fellow indie filmmakers. On Sunday November 30, I went to their screening of 2 feature length movies at the Triple Century Sports Bar. "The Candidate" and "Kane and Abel" are two suspense films that obviously a lot of work went into. I am not going to call these movies perfect. The CEO of Jollywood Films, Khanai Condison himself admitted these are works of progress toward a greater goal of helping the industry get to where it needs to be and he is just doing his part. It has it's issues here and there. Sound could be better in some areas, Colouring could be better, there was good acting and there was poor acting, and there were some story flow issues, but the films definitely showed potential and they were definitely enjoyable. Plus 2 feature length movies for only $1,500 is a good deal.

The house was packed and they were there specifically for the movies. Everyone's eyes glued to the screen. In between each movie we were treated to a musical interlude featuring music from the sound track by the actual artist. A signature feature of Khanai Condison's screenings.

"The Candidate" is a story about a politician with the ambitions of following in his father's and grandfather's footsteps of becoming the Prime Minister of Jamaica. The forces working against him happen to be the people closest to him. The only way to achieve his goal is to eradicate anyone in his way.

"Kane and Abel" follows two brother like the bible story. One is affluent and well respected in society and the other is an ex-con released for 4 weeks as a part of an experimental program to motivate prisoners. The story is set within the back drop of a new controversial law that gives rise to the plot unfolding. Filled with double crossing, intense moments of suspense and redemption, this might have been the crowds favorite movie of the night.

I commend Jollywood Films on these films and congratulate them on an event well attended. He took some very bold risks in these movies. The type of risks rarely seen but well needed in this growing industry.

Now I am looking forward to Simon "Sno" Thompson and Aldwayne "Alweezy" Tomlinson's new Zombie Film screening next year. As soon as I check that out I will be sure to blog about it. In the mean time check out the pictures from the event on there facebook page below. Jollywood Facebook Page